Avdella
Avdella (Greek: Αβδέλλα; Aromanian: Avdhela) is a village and a former municipality in Grevena regional unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been a municipal unit of Grevena.[2] It is a seasonal Aromanian (Vlach) village in the Pindus mountains, at 1250–1350 metres altitude. Its summer population is about 3000, but in the winter there are only a few watchmen. The 2011 census recorded 280 inhabitants.[1] It is notable as the birthplace of the Manakis brothers, and appears in the opening sequence of the film Ulysses' Gaze. The community of Avdella covers an area of 43.243 km2.[3]
Avdella Αβδέλλα | |
|---|---|
 A view of Avdella | |
  Avdella Location within the regional unit  | |
| Coordinates: 40°01′N 21°08′E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | West Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Grevena |
| Municipality | Grevena |
| • Municipal unit | 43.243 km2 (16.696 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,300 m (4,300 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 280 |
| • Municipal unit density | 6.5/km2 (17/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 510 32 |
| Area code(s) | +30-2462-xxx-xxx |
| Vehicle registration | ΡΝ |
History
The first foundation of Avdella remains unknown. Perhaps it was connected to the creation of settlements on the mountain range of Smolikas with the delivery of veterinary surgeon activity of region. In the beginning, Vlach families created small family settlements which were fused and became a single settlement such as current Avdella. The foundation and the growth of Avdella is associated with the rise of livestock-farming taking into account the pastoral habits of the locals. Before 1800, the village was situated in the "Fantines", but the residents, mostly large families of Vlach shepherds moved to the current position due to better climate.
Under Ottoman rule, Avdella was in the kaza of Grevena, Sanjak of Serfice (modern Servia), Vilayet of Monastir (modern Bitola).
The first Romanian school in the region of modern Greece was founded in Avdella in 1867 by local Aromanian Apostol Margarit.[4]
Some authors claim that Avdella was a center of pro-Romanian sentiment in the beginning of the 20th century, contributing figures such as Apostol Mărgărit. It was burned in October 1905 by Greek antartes because of this.[5] Contributing leaders such as Zisis Verros in Macedonian Struggle were fighting for the Greek cause.
On 14 July 1944, the village was burned again by a group of German Nazis, during their retreat.
Notable people
- Yanaki and Milton Manaki (1872-1954, 1882-1964), photography and cinema pioneers
- Apostol Mărgărit (1832-1903), Aromanian educator and activist
- Pericle Papahagi (1872-1943), historian and folklorist
- Zisis Verros (1880-1985), Greek chieftain of the Macedonian Struggle
Notes
- "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
- Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
- "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2015.
- Ласку, Стоjка. Од историjaта на ароманскиот печат во Македонија. Списаниjата "Братство" и "Светлина", Скопје 2007, с. 122
- Христо Силянов. "Освободителните борби на Македония", том IІ, стр.264.
- Επίτομο Γεωγραφικό Λεξικό της Ελλάδος (Geographical Dictionary of Greece), Μιχαήλ Σταματελάτος, Φωτεινή Βάμβα-Σταματελάτου, εκδ. Ερμής, ΑΘήνα 2001